Motorized weightlifting rack

ABSTRACT

A weightlifting rack includes a tower with a pair of arms terminating in catches to support a weighted bar. An actuator powered by an electric motor is connected to the arms to adjust the vertical position of the arms to accommodate different height weightlifters. After the bar is lifted from the catches, the catches can be pivoted rearwardly out of the way while the weightlifter performs exercises.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 61/807,405 filed Apr. 2, 2013, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Weightlifting racks are well known for use with weightlifting bars and weight plates, particularly for squat and similar exercises. Many athletes and weightlifters use substantial weight for squats, which may be several 100 pounds or more. The squat exercise starts with the weighted bar being supported by the rack at a height slightly below the weight lifter's shoulders when the lifter is standing under the bar, so that the lifter can lift the bar and weights off the rack for squat movements. With conventional racks, a pair of spaced apart bar catches or hooks are attached, one on each side of the rack, and these hooks must be separately raised and lowered for different height lifters. Such change in the catch height requires the weight plates to be removed from the bar, the bar removed from the catches, the catches moved up or down independently, the bar replaced on the catches, and the weight plates replaced on the bar. Such changing of the catches is time consuming, and creates risk of injury since the heavy weight plates are being moved to and from the bar.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved rack assembly which minimizes the time and risk associated with changing the height of the bar catches.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a motorized weightlifting rack which allows quick and easy adjustment of the bar height.

Another objective of the present invention is a provision of a weightlifting rack with an electrically adjustable bar support.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an electric tower assembly which can be quickly and easily coupled to a conventional weight lifting rack for quickly, easily, and safely changing the height of the bar catches and weight lifting bar.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved weightlifting rack which can raise and lower the bar catches without removing the weighted bar.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a tower assembly with spaced apart hooks for holding a weightlifting bar, wherein the tower can be coupled with a conventional weightlifting rack for use in weightlifting squat exercises.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack wherein the bar catches can be simultaneously raised and lowered to accommodate different height users.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an automated weightlifting rack wherein the bar catches can be moved in unison while supporting a weighted bar.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack with motorized bar catches which can be vertically adjusted for different weight lifters.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack with a bar catches which can be extended to a use position and retracted to a non-use position.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack which is safe and durable in use.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The weight lifting rack of the present invention includes a tower with a linear actuator powered by an electric motor. The tower includes a pair of spaced apart arms extending forwardly with a bar catch on the end of each arm to support a weightlifting bar loaded with weight plates. The height of the catches can be quickly and easily adjusted by actuating the motor to raise or lower the catches, while the weighted bar is on the catches, to accommodate weightlifters having different heights. The actuator includes a track to guide movement of the arms, and a suspension system to absorb shock when a weighted bar is set upon the catches. The bar catches can also be pivoted forwardly to a use position for supporting the weight bar and pivoted rearwardly out of the way of a weightlifter who has removed the bar from the catches to do exercises.

The present invention includes a method of adjusting the height of a weightlifting bar, including the steps of setting the bar upon a pair of spaced apart catches or hooks, and then actuating a powered assist unit to move the arm vertically upwardly or downwardly to a selected height, depending upon the height of the weightlifter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motorized weightlifting rack, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the rack, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the rack, according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the rack, with the back panel removed from the tower assembly to show the linear actuator.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken in the circle line A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional rack and the electric tower assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the electric tower assembly with the bar catches in an extended position for supporting a weight bar.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the electric tower assembly with the bar catches in a retracted position for a user to do squats or other exercises.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the electric tower assembly.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the motorized weightlifting rack assembly 10 of the present invention. The assembly 10 includes a conventional weightlifting rack 12 and an electric tower system 14. The assembly 10 can be used for various weightlifting exercises using a free weightlifting bar 16 and weight plates 18 which are selectively mounted and secured on the bar 16.

The rack 12 includes a base 20, with primary and secondary uprights 22, 24, respectively. The primary uprights 22 include a plurality of notches 26 to selectively receive adjustable safety arms 27 at a desired height along the uprights 22 which can be used to support the bar 16 in the event a lifter can't stand up after a squat. The secondary uprights 24 include a plurality of pegs 28 to hold weight plates 18 when the plates are not in use on the bar 16. The rack 12 may have various conventional forms, such as the Power Lift ® rack manufactured and sold by applicant, Conner Athletic Products, Inc.

The tower assembly 14 includes opposite sides 32, a front panel 34 and a rear panel 36. The tower assembly 14 is secured to the rack 12 in any convenient means, preferably in several locations, such as near the bottom and the top of the tower 14. In FIG. 4, the rear panel 36 is removed to show the interior of the tower assembly 14. A linear actuator 38 with an extendable and retractable arm 40 is mounted in a vertical orientation within the tower assembly 14. A suspension system 42 with springs 44 is provided at the top of the arm 40.

The tower assembly 14 also includes a pair of horizontal arms 46 which extend forwardly beyond the front panel 34 and are bolted or otherwise secured to a pair of carriage members 48. As best seen in FIG. 5, each carriage members 48 includes a wheel or roller 50 rollably received within a vertical track 52 extending along each side 32 of the tower assembly 14. The carriage members 48 are operatively connected to the arm 40 of the actuator 38 via the suspension system 42, as also seen in FIG. 5. A bar catch or hook 54 extends downwardly from the forward or outer ends of each horizontal arm 46. The bar catches 54 supports the weight bar 16, as best shown in FIGS. 1-4.

An electric motor 56 controls the actuator 38 and the position of the arm 40, and thus the height of the horizontal arms 46 and bar catches 54. The motor 56 is actuated by a control box 58 having a rocker switch 60 and an emergency stop button 62. Pushing the switch 60 upwardly actuates the motor 56 so as to rotate the screw actuator 38 and extend the arm 40, so as to simultaneously raise the bar catches 54. Pushing the rocker switch 60 downwardly reverses the motor 56 so as to retract the arm 40 and lower the bar catches 54 in unison. Thus, the height of the bar catches 54 and the weight bar 16 can be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate the height of the lifter, without removing the bar 16 from the catches 54.

The upper ends of the bar catches 54 are mounted on a rod or axle 64 for movement between a lift starting position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a retracted position during the squat exercises. The catches 54 can be pivoted rearwardly from the start position shown in FIG. 7A to a retracted position shown in FIG. 7B, by a second person or spotter via a handle 66 operatively connected to the axle 64. A toggle clamp 67 and arms 68, 69, 70 between the handle 66 and the axle 64 transfer movement of the handle 66 to the bar catch axle 64. Thus, moving the handle 66 rearwardly after a weightlifter has lifted the weight bar from the bar catches 54 pivots the axle 64 and bar catches 54 rearwardly, as seen in FIG. 7B. Moving the handle 66 forwardly pivots the axle 64 and catches 54 forwardly, as seen in FIG. 7A, so the weightlifter can set the bar back onto the catches 54. The clamps 67 and linkages 68-70 may be covered with a housing or plate (not shown). The toggle clamp 67 has an over-center locking function, so as to lock the handle 66 in the forward position and precluding movement of the handle 66 due to jarring action on the catches 54, such as when a weight bar is set onto the catches. When the handle is moved to the rearward position, the spring 72 pulls the linkage arm 69 down so that the handle will stay without a person holding the handle. As seen in FIG. 7A, there is a slot in the forward end of arm 69 to slidably receive the pin in the rear end of arm 70. The suspension system 42 absorbs shock when a weight lifter places the bar 16 back on the hooks 54 after completing an exercise.

With the tower system 14 of the present invention, the weight bar 16 fully loaded with weight plates 18 can remain on the bar catches 54 while the motor 56 and actuator 38 raise and lower the bar 16. Thus, the tower system 14 saves time and minimizes risk when changing the height of the bar 16, as compared to the prior art lifting racks.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weightlifting rack for supporting a weighted bar, comprising: a base; a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the base to support the bar; and a powered system to move the arms upwardly and downwardly relative to the base.
 2. The rack of claim 1 with the system includes a linear actuator.
 3. The rack of claim 2 wherein the linear actuator is centered laterally on the base.
 4. The rack of claim 2 with the system includes an electric motor operatively connected to the actuator.
 5. The rack of claim 1 with the system includes a track on the base to guide movement of the arms.
 6. The rack of claim 1 further comprising a suspension system to absorb shock to the powered system.
 7. The rack of claim 6 wherein the suspension system includes at least one spring.
 8. The weightlifting rack of claim 1 wherein the arms are connected so as to move in unison.
 9. The weightlifting rack of claim 1 wherein the arms are pivotal between a first operative position and a second inoperative position.
 10. A method of adjusting the height of a weight lifting bar, comprising: setting the bar upon a pair of support arms; and then moving the arms vertically with a powered assist to a selected height.
 11. The method of claim 10 with the powered assist includes a linear actuator to adjust the vertical position of the arms.
 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising using an electric motor to control the powered assist to raise and lower the arms.
 13. The method of claim 10 further comprising guiding the vertical arm movement along a track.
 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising absorbing shock to the power assist.
 15. The method of claim 10 further comprising moving the arms simultaneously with the powered assist.
 16. The method of claim 10 further comprising moving the arms forwardly to a use position and rearwardly to a non-use position.
 17. A weightlifting tower for supporting a weighted bar comprising: a frame having a pair of arms which are vertically adjustable along the frame and being adapted to hold the weighted bar; a powered actuator to move the arms to a selected vertical position without removing the weighted bar.
 18. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 further comprising a suspension system on the actuator to absorb shock from the weighted bar.
 19. The weightlifting tower of claim 18 wherein the suspension system includes at least one spring.
 20. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 wherein the powered actuator is a linear actuator.
 21. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 further comprising an electric motor to extend and retract the linear actuator.
 22. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 further comprising a track on the frame to guide movement of the actuator.
 23. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 wherein the actuator is centered laterally on the frame.
 24. The weightlifting of claim 17 wherein the actuator the arms extend forwardly from the frame and the actuator is spaced rearwardly from the arms.
 25. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 wherein the actuator raises and lowers the arms together.
 26. The weightlifting tower of claim 17 further comprising a handle operatively connected to the arms to extend and retract the arms between use and non-use positions, respectively. 